Ironing device



Feb. 10, 1959 H. ROSENTHAL IRONING DEVICE Filed May 31, 1956 INVENTQR. Ha/ry Bosenfha/ BY We; 1:, W

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IRONING DEVICE Harry Rosenthal, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 31, 1956, Serial No. 588,401

2 Claims. ('Cl. 38-99) This invention relates to ironing or pressing devices for fabric and is particularly adapted for ironing the edges of blankets and similar articles.

In commercial laundering operations it is frequently desirable to iron only the edge portions of certain items. For example, blankets generally have edge binding which should be pressed after laundering to finish them. In the past this type of pressing operation has usually required time consuming and costly special attention in the use of ironing equipment not particularly adapted for such purpose.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple device of inexpensive construction for pressing the binding of blankets or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact ironing device which is extremely simple to operate and is electrically controlled for automatic heat regulation during use thereof.

Still another object is to provide apparatus for quickly and effectively pressing both sides of the edge portions of fabric.

A feature of the invention is the provision of'a pair of electrically heated ironing members mounted in spaced relation with respective rounded surfaces thereof facing opposite directions from one another so that material to be pressed can be simply positioned between the ironing members and drawn across the rounded surfaces.

Another feature is the provision of an electrically heated pressing device which contains thermostats for controlling the temperature of the device to avoid scorching or burning materials in the device.

Further objects and features, and attending advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration' of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ironing device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the device showing the manner of using the apparatus; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing'the electric circuit used in the apparatus.

The invention comprises a pressing device for fabrics and in the preferred form thereof is particularly adapted to iron the bound edges of blankets and the like. A control box, supported in a convenient and accessible location, provides mounting for a pair of electrically heated ironing members. These members are spaced from one another and include rounded surfaces facing in opposite directions from one another with respect to a common tangent thereof, so that material to be pressed can be introduced between these members and drawn along such tangent and into an S-shape and across the rounded surfaces with one surface contacting each side of the material. The control box further includes an on-off switch, a pilot light, and a light indicating when the apparatus has reached an operative temperature. Suitable thermostats in the iron elements control electric rounded surfaces into an S-shape.

Patented h'eio. 10, 1%59 ice temperature thereof and to control the ready light.

- Fig. 1 shows ironing device 10 which includes a pedestal 12 supporting a mounting post 14, to the top of which control box 15 is secured. The electrically heated ironing members 17, 18 are secured in tilted relation to the front of the control box and extend outwardly therefrom in spaced parallel relation. These elements include tubular shells having respective semi-cylindrical or rounded surfaces 17a and 18a which face outwardly in opposite directions from one another. The top of control box 15 supports various electrical components associated with the device including an on-oflf switch 2d, a pilot light 22, which indicates when the apparatus is turned on, and a ready light 24 which indicates when the device has reached an operative temperature.

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner of using the device which consists of introducing the binding or edge 26a of blanket 26 between the ironing members 17, 18, and drawing the edge along the common tangent of rounded surfaces 17a and 18a, respectively, under and over these The edge is then drawn across the surfaces under tension manually maintained by the operator so that opposite faces of the edge 26;: are simultaneously heated by the ironing members as the edge is maintained under tension. The tilted mounting of members 17, 18, that is mounting one slightly above the other, facilitates manipulation of the material to be ironed when downwardly facing surface 17a is lower than the upwardly facing surface 12a because an operator is required to do less reaching upwardly and downwardly in drawing the material through the device. The pressing operation, of course, tends to dry the blank et edge if it happens to be damp from a previous washing operation and additionally, whether the fabric is damp or dry, smoothes the binding and finishes the material by removing wrinkles.

Fig. 3 shows the electric circuit for energizing the heating elements 27, 2% and the control lam s. it may be seen that closing switch 20 provides power to the entire device and energizes indicator lamp 22. This also supplies power to the series connected ready lamp 24, thermostats 3t), 32 and the parallel connected heating elements 27, 28. These elements are respectively disposed in the tubular ironing members 17 and 18 to provide the necessary ironing temperature. Thermostat 30, contained within the ironing member 18, operates to open and close the circuit to the heating elements as the desired maximum and minimum temperatures of member 18 are reached. Thermostat 32, disposed within ironing member 17, is a limiting thermostat and is designed to open the circuit to heating element 27, if member 17 should become excessively heated, for example, in the situation where heating element 23 is open circuited, and the contacts of thermostat 3b are continually closed. This circuit will then prevent accidental scorching of any fabric coming into contact with either of the ironing members. Obviously indicator lamp 24 is lighted during the initial Warm up of the device to indicate that it is not yet ready for use. Thereafter this lamp will periodically light and go out as thermostat 3d closes and opens to maintain the temperature range of the ironing members.

Accordingly, it may be seen that this ironing device is of simple construction and requires but a minimum of floor space at a location for use. Furthermore, it is easy to operate, due to the simple manipulation of the mate rial and the automatic indications which inform an operator of the condition of the device, thus facilitating good workmanship in the pressing of various fabrics such as blanket binding. It should also be pointed out that the pressing device permits pressing operations to be carried 3 out very rapidly and with a minimum of effort, since the material need merely be drawn through the device but a single time to press both sides thereof.

I claim:

1. A pressing device for ironing the edge portions of pieces of fabric including in combination, a verticai support stand, a control box on said support stand, first and second ironing members each comprising an elongated tubular shell afiixed at one end to said control box and extending outwardly. therefrom and each having-a free end, said tubular shells having all parts thereof in fixed positions with respect to said support stand and having semi-cylindrical pressing surfaces facing away from'each other and disposed on opposite sides of a common tangent therebetween, said ironing members being spaced diagonally with respect to said vertical stand in positions to receive the edge of the fabric between said ironing members so that the fabric may be manually tensioned around said semi-cylindrical pressing surfaces and'along the common tangent thereof, electric heating elements in said first and second ironing members, and an energizing circuit connected to said heating elements, said energizing circuit including thermostat means to open and close said energizing circuit to maintain the temperature of said ironing members within an operating range and to open said energizing circuit when said ironing members reach a maximum temperature.

2. A pressing device for ironing the edge portions of pieces of fabric, including in combination, a vertical support stand, a control box on said support stand, first and second spaced elongated ironing members each having one end affixed to said control box and extending outwardly therefrom and each having a free end, with all parts of each ironing member being in fixed positions with respect to said support stand, said ironing members having semicylindrical pressing surfaces facing away from each other and disposed on opposite sides of a common tangent there between for contacting and pressing the opposite sides of the edge portions of the piece of fabric, said ironing members being mounted on said stand in positions to receive the edge of the fabric between said ironing members so that the fabric may be manually tensioned over said curved pressing surfaces and along the common tangent thereof, electric heating elements in said first and second ironing members, and an energizing circuit connected to said heating elements, said energizing circuit including first and second thermostats disposed respectively in said first and scond ironing members and series coupled with said heating elements, said first thermostat being operative to open and close said energizing circuit to maintain the temperature of said first ironing member within an operating range, and said second thermostat being operative to open said energizing circuit when said second ironing member reaches a maximum temperature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,271,577 Ieannetaud July 9, 1918 1,797,398 Bosshard Mar. 24, 1931 2,341,504 Leonard Feb. 8, 1944 2,678,375 Gerber et al May 11, 1954 

